Treating Head Lice With Chemical Products
The head louse is often encountered in schools. This small parasite is not dangerous but it should be treated. The most common head lice removal method is using shampoos or lotions that contain chemical products that kill lice; these are insecticides. Although they are quite effective they can also be dangerous for your health and you should think twice before using them.
Among insecticides,
products containing permethrin, pyrethrum and malathion are currently still considered effective, although not 100% and not everywhere, as head lice are becoming every day more resistant to those products in most western countries. Insecticides should anyway only be used if you are certain that you have head lice. And you should never use them as a prevention method, as they do not prevent any head lice infestation.
Products containing permethrin, such as Nix, should be applied to the hair for at least 10 minutes. After 7 to 10 days, the effect of the treatment must be monitored. If live lice are found when combing wet hair, you must repeat the treatment. If live lice are still found another 7 to 10 days later, you can try a product containing malathion.
Products containing malathion should be applied once to the hair for at least 8 to 12 hours. These products have a strong smell. After a week to 10 days, you should control the effect of the treatment. If live lice are found when combing wet hair, you must repeat the treatment. If live lice are still found another 7 to 10 days later, you can try a product containing pyrethrin.
Some products combine permethrin and malathion. These are not recommended because it encourages the emergence of lice resistant to both products.
You can remove head lice by putting them in contact with products that kill them such as insecticides or dimethicone and then by taking them off wet hair with a lice comb. As far as the nits are concerned, these can be removed using a lice comb dipped in vinegar.
As the nits are rarely eliminated by these chemical treatments, it is necessary to use alternative solutions, to comb the hair with a nit comb, and to repeat this after about ten days. Indeed, the surviving eggs will hatch 7 to 10 days after they were laid. The youngest of these eggs then give birth to lice about 10 days after the first removal of lice eggs. These “baby” lice must be eliminated by a second alternative treatment and combing of the hair. Otherwise they become adults after about two weeks and begin to lay eggs themselves.
When using insecticides you should take some precautions and watch for side effects. These products are pesticides and a skin irritation is possible, as well as tingling and itching. Contact with eyes should be avoided. Some products contain a lot of alcohol and they can ignite so you should not use a hair dryer. These products are highly toxic if ingested, and if this happens you should call a doctor or any emergency service. Of course they are not recommended for children under 6 months and sometimes under 2 years, or for pregnant or breast feeding women.
Maybe your child is allergic or you simply don’t feel like using insecticides to remove head lice – after all, they are pesticides that are not harmless to your health and some of them can also have dangerous side effects indeed. In such a case you can use home remedies; some of them are very effective at removing lice, and what’s best about them is you can also use some of them as a prevention measure.
